October, 2011 Section News

ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION  

Section Manager (SM) - Phil Temples, K9HI 
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ 
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) - "Bo" Budinger, WA1QYM 
Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) - Ed Parish, K1EP 
Public Information Coordinator (PIC) - Bob Salow, WA1IDA 
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) - Rob Macedo, KD1CY 
Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U 
State Government Liaison (SGL) - Shawn O'Donnell, K3HI 
Technical Coordinator (TC) - Eric Falkof, K1NUN  


OCTOBER, 2011 SECTION NEWS:  

The season – along with the weather – is a'changin'. And with
those
changes, many amateurs shift the focus of their activities to on-air
operating. There are a lot of fun-filled contests coming up on the fall
schedule. Consider spending a few hours operating in the School Club
Roundup (Oct. 17-21), or the ARRL November CW and Phone Sweepstakes
(Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 19-21, respectively). You don't have to try and win.
Just getting on will get the juices flowing, and possibly net you some
new states or countries for that WAS or DXCC award. And although they
are not ARRL-sponsored contests, the CQWW SSB (Oct. 29-30) and CW (Nov.
26-27) weekend events are hugely popular.  

Ten meters has been opening up almost daily. How about the 10-10
International Sprint on Oct. 10? Or, the 10-10 Int'l. Fall Contest on
Oct. 15-16. There are also many state QSO Parties to choose from. A
complete schedule of on-air activities is available at
<http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air>.

Never operated in a contest before? With the increased sunspot
activity, there's never been a better time to get started. Need help?
There are plenty of contesters and other operators who will lend a hand
to first-timers. Your local ARRL-affiliated club is a good place to
start. Also, the Yankee Clipper Contest Club at <http://www.yccc.org>
is always willing to mentor the newly minted ham as well as the rusty
old-timer. 

EMA Technical Coordinator Eric Falkof, K1NUN presented on Sept. 15 to
the Quannapowitt RA in Reading on stealth antennas. Eric will give a
repeat performance on 10/5 to members of the Cape Ann ARA in
Gloucester.

N1CPE recently stepped down as MA State RACES Communications Officer.
Former EMA SM Mike Neilsen, W1MPN has agreed to take over the job on an
interim basis.  Amateurs across the state extend their sincere
appreciation to Mike for volunteering, and to Tom for his years of
dedication in this important role.

SEMARA members mourn the loss of Silent Key Joe Hampson, W1JFI of
Fairhaven.

Rainfall amounts of between 2-6 inches resulted in unexpected,
significant flash floods to the North Shore on Oct. 4.  States of
emergency were declared in Peabody, Swampscott, Salem, Lynn,
Marblehead, and Beverley. SKYWARN self-activated on the 145.47 Danvers
repeater and the NEW-ENG Echolink/IRLP system. ARES/SKYWARN volunteers
provided valuable reports of flooding, rainfall totals, and hail and
wind damage to the NWS in Taunton.

MA amateurs were involved with the highly successful 2011 QCWA National
Convention Sept. 9-11 in Warwick, RI. The husband/wife team of WA1ENO &
WB1ARU of Hanover ably assisted Convention Chair WB6VVA of Bolton.
Saturday presentations included: a stellar presentation on
high-altitude balloon experimentation by Rochester Institute of
Technology students KB1LQC & KB1LQD of Chelmsford; the Courage Center
Handiham Program by this Section Manager; and others.

Dignitaries in attendance at the Convention included: New England
Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI; ARRL President Kaye Craigie, N3KN;
New England Wireless & Steam Museum Founder and Director Robert Merriam,
W1NTE; and former Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division
of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH. 

EMA PIC Bob Salow, WA1IDA spoke at the Clay Center ARC in Brookline on
Oct. 4 about public service operation. 

Best wishes to Boston ARC former prez KB1P. Tom and his XYL are
retiring and moving to NC. NA1I has been appointed BARC's new club
president.

Boston ARC's October VE session has been rescheduled for October 12 at
7 PM. Contact <NA1I@arrl.net> for more details.

AB1V reports a Technician class will be held Oct 11 & 13 in
Southborough, MA for the community CERT and MRC folks.

KE1V's "A Non DXpedition to Iceland" was warmly received by the
Billerica ARS membership at its September meeting.

KB1LXH reminds everyone that the 54th Jamboree on the Air is Oct. 15.
Members from the Taunton Area Communications Group and the Whitman ARC
will operate a JOTA station at Camp Norse in Kingston, MA Oct. 15. See
<http://ema.arrl.org/node/1898> for details.

NEARFest is coming October 14-15! Details are at
<http://near-fest.com>.

Ham volunteers are still needed for the BAA Half Marathon on Oct. 9.
Interested persons should contact <WA1IDA@arrl.net>.

Harvard Wireless Club recently sought and obtained as its new campus
sponsor the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 

Have you ever wondered what the various digital modes sound like?
KB1MGI posts this link containing various audio samples:
<http://tinyurl.com/3v67on9>.

The Bristol Co. RA crew operated during the MA week portion of the
QRPARCI 50-year celebration on-air event as K6JSS/1. Thanks, WB1HGA.

K1EMS says they can use a few more volunteers for the annual Head of
the Charles event Oct. 21-23. Contact <k1ems@arrl.net>.

The recent Minuteman Repeater Association meeting in Westborough
featured EMA SEC Rob Macedo, KD1CY talking about SKYWARN and severe
weather.

Nashoba Valley ARC heard a presentation in September by N1HXA, inventor
of the Hex-Beam antenna. At the October meeting, NVARC members will sort
QSLs on behalf of the W1 QSL bureau.

W1MAW posted this very funny "Family Guy" YouTube video where Stewie
gives Brian a walkie-talkie then gives him a hard time when he doesn't
follow protocol: <http://tinyurl.com/46tael>.

WF1V presented recently to the Wellesley ARS at its Sept. meeting on
modern HF transceivers.

Wellesley ARS members N1ZCE and NT1L were prominently featured on the
cover of September 2011 QST while operating at the Boston Marathon Net
Control at the Dexter School in Brookline.

Barnstable ARC members held a foxhunt on Sept. 16 in Dennis.

Nominations are now open for the George Hart Distinguished Service
Award to honor an ARRL member whose service to the ARRL's Field
Organization is of the most exemplary nature. Selection criteria
include: Operating record with the National Traffic System; or
participation within the Amateur Radio Emergency Service; or Station
appointments and/or leadership positions held within the Field
Organization. For more information, see <http://tinyurl.com/43q62pl>.

73,

K9HI

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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
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